I have a V50 with a D5 engine for a family car. The Volvo service interval is 18k miles which seams far too long to me so I thought I'd do an intermediate oil change. Only problem is that I can't find the drain plug. There is a tray under the whole engine bay which looks fairly easy to take off if only I could get it in the air. I just wondered whether anyone knows whether that's the right approach before I start messing about with it, or whether it's designed to have the old oil pumped out rather than drainined.

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Originally posted by Rosco
I have a V50 with a D5 engine for a family car. The Volvo service interval is 18k miles which seams far too long to me so I thought I'd do an intermediate oil change. Only problem is that I can't find the drain plug. There is a tray under the whole engine bay which looks fairly easy to take off if only I could get it in the air. I just wondered whether anyone knows whether that's the right approach before I start messing about with it, or whether it's designed to have the old oil pumped out rather than drainined.

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Assuming you can get at the oil filter for intermediate oil changes why not buy vacuum pump oil extractor that goes down the dip stick tube I have a Seago branded one and with the engine warm it sucks the sump dry --- really as dry as you would get removing the drain plug.
You can get them fairly cheaply from yacht chandlers or off ebay --- much cheaper than from big name brands.

I have one and it is so easy change the oil that I change the oil ever 7k on the Rover but only change the filter and use a flushing agent every second oil change. Really over kil as I now I run on LPG the oil hardly gets dirty between changes anyway.

Morrisions petrol stations are selling 5ltr Havoline 5w/30 fully synthetic for 16 quid.

One thing to watch is the plug change interval on modern cars with long life plugs the manufacturers have stretched it much too far --- on some makes its is 60,000 miles plus and for other manufacturers it is not scheduled at all in the whole life of the vehicle !
In my experienc4e using even long-life precious metal or multi-gap spark plugs past 30,000 miles between changes is risking coil pack insulation breakdown from excessive HT voltages.

[Edited on 11/8/09 by britishtrident]

Pretty cheap really you can also get electric ones that pump straight into any old oil container.

http://www.force4.co.uk/859/Force-4-Oil-Extractor-Pump.html

http://www.marinescene.co.uk/category/699/oil-extraction
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